The Man barbarians: As recorded in Chinese sources from the Han through the Southern Dynasties

This thesis explores the relationship between the Chinese and Man barbarians of the middle Yangzi watershed region from the Later Han (25-220 AD) through the Southern Dynasties (420-579). For the time in question, this quite heterogeneous mixture of barbarians was categorized, by the Chinese, into two main lineages, those claiming descent from Panhu and those from Lord Lin. Several Chinese sources on the Man are translated, and numerous inconsistencies and generalizations of traditional Chinese writers about the Man are investigated. This thesis explores the origin myths of Panhu and Lord Lin, as well as that of the Bandun barbarians. These origin myths illuminate Man identity, cultural practices, and the Man/Chinese relationship. This thesis also explores a number of references to Man within the literature of the time period. These references reveal an increase of interaction and familiarity between Chinese and Man populations.